So I attended the writers’ retreat at Silver Falls, Oregon, and yes, it’s a totally beautiful spot–tall trees, woodland green and lush, and the falls themselves spectacular. They drop into a deep open bowl in the earth cut into layers of rock formed from cooled lava that covered Oregon long long ago… The writers were talented and congenial, and weather even cooperated, no rain until the last day, when I discovered I had forgotten to pack an umbrella–I always pack an umbrella, but not this time, of all times. As one of the presenters I received a goodie bag with small treats, including pamphlets on bears and cougars and what to do if you encountered one of the beasties while hiking, and a jingle bell to wear on your athletic shoe to let the animals know you are coming (so they can better plan their attack?) and for some unknown reason a chart of good and bad insects which I put beneath a layer of paper and tried not to look at… I am–I’m sorry to report–the most inside person you will likely ever encounter, and anything with more legs than my cat belongs, to my mind, out THERE while I stay in HERE, and never the twain shall, I hope, meet. I enjoyed talking to the writers over the weekend, my workshop went well, and I did not encounter any wild animals, except that on the way out of the state park, we saw a bobcat–I think–one of the other speakers thought it was a young cougar, but I voted for bobcat as the shape was wrong for cougar, I thought, and it had tufted ears….and I was quite happy to see it from the relative safety of the inside of a car. And so ended my commune with nature, and I headed back to the city! Nicole Byrd
October 20, 2006
The writers’ (rustic) retreat:
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Am so glad you enjoyed yourself in my state. The wild animals are usually as scared of you as you are of them!
Comment by Estella — October 20, 2006 @ 3:26 pm
Lucky you, Nicole! Sounds like fun! My husband and son saw an alligator (or crocodile? I don’t know the difference, I have to admit) in the lake out behind our house last weekend. They told me he was “only about three feet long”. I’m thinking he must have a mommy somewhere nearby …
Comment by Jolie Mathis — October 20, 2006 @ 5:43 pm
A different world! Sounds like an amazing place, a complete contrast.
Comment by Saskia Walker — October 21, 2006 @ 5:46 am
The retreat sounds amazing!
Comment by Alyssa Brooks — October 21, 2006 @ 2:44 pm
It was great, Estella. I was stretching my reactions a wee bit
And special thanks to Annette for posting it for me when I couldn’t get on the blog when I was traveling! I meant to put on a photo but no way I could figure out how to do that–here’s me planning to get more techo oriented–another goal set…
Nicole
Comment by Nicole Byrd — October 25, 2006 @ 11:27 pm